To purchase Choose Health’s at Home Testoserone Kit, visit Dr. Tucker’s site and receive a discount.
When someone says “testosterone” it evokes images of a manly man pounding his (hairy) chest and crushing beer cans against his forehead. However, the truth about testosterone is more complex. Obviously, testosterone is responsible for more than the ability to crush a can against one’s forehead. It determines sex drive, is essential to building muscle mass, and helps maintain energy levels.
More importantly and related to COVID-19, at the 36th annual European Association of Urology congress (EAU21) researchers reported low testosterone levels are highly prevalent among men at the time of hospital admission for COVID-19, and it is associated with more severe clinical outcomes.
Andrea Salonia, MD, of San Raffaele University Hospital in Milan, Italy, found that 257/286 (89.8%) men hospitalized with COVID-19 had hypogonadism at hospital admission compared with 42 (14.9%) of health controls.The investigators defined hypogonadism as a total testosterone (TT) level less than 9.2nmol/L (265.1ng/dL). The scary part is that hypogonadism was significantly associated with 33% increased odds of death. The lower the TT levels, the greater the risk of death. Results also showed that the lower the TT levels, the higher the likelihood patients would need intensive care, be intubated and put on a ventilator, and remain in a hospital over a longer period. The study suggests the lower the testosterone, the higher the severity of the condition and likelihood of death.
Take home message: You don’t know your testosterone levels unless you get tested. TT levels can be tested at home on your own. You can order a test kit here to determine whether low TT is something to address. It’s been known for a long time that lower‑than‑normal testosterone levels may increase by as much as 88% the risk of death in older men.
Symptoms of low testosterone levels include:
Reduced sex drive.
Loss of muscle and bone density.
And: incomplete erections, disturbed sleep, fatigue, irritability, feelings of depression, poor concentration, memory lapses, or heart disease, etc.
Many doctors choose to treat low testosterone levels with prescriptions for supplemental testosterone. The important thing is to get tested. Reduced testosterone levels can be traced in part to the use of pesticides, chemicals, and additives in the food we eat and the water we drink. Therefore, paying attention to the sources of your food and water and adopting a high protein, low-carbohydrate diet will go a long way toward increasing your hormone levels and quality of life. To get the maximum amount of protein in your diet, focus on eating meat, wild fish, eggs, dairy, and nuts.
Red meat: Grass fed beef is among the most nutritious foods, containing complete protein and creatine. Creatine makes you stronger and more energetic. Red meat is also the best source of the nutrient CoQ10, which is essential for a healthy heart. There is a strong connection between heart disease and erectile dysfunction, so CoQ10 also plays an important role in sexual health. Grass-fed beef is the healthiest choice, since it has 20 times more of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to increase cardiovascular health, than commercial beef with none of the additional hormones.
Wild fish: Fish contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. However, be cautious about which fish you choose. Higher levels of mercury and other toxins are found in farm-raised fish; especially swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tuna. Wild Alaskan salmon, mackerel, trout and sardines are your healthiest choices.
Eggs: Eggs are the perfect food. They contain cholesterol – the developing embryo needs it to produce sex hormones and so do you – but just because there is cholesterol present does not mean that it will raise your blood cholesterol levels. Eggs contain vitamins A, B, D, E, and K, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids and are the source of the highest quality protein on the planet.
Dairy: Dairy is full of protein. Cheese and whole milk are great sources of calcium and vitamin D. Raw, organic milk is the best.
Nuts: Nuts are rich in healthy monounsaturated fat. Walnuts and almonds are among the most nutritious, containing omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, fiber, potassium, and other important minerals. Other good choices are pecans, macadamias, cashews, and Brazil nuts.
The good news is that testosterone is a renewable resource. If you feel like your levels may be low, you can get tested at home. Simply adjusting what you eat, exercising, not drinking excessively, and not smoking can do wonders for your testosterone levels, your overall vitality, and your life span. Just think: the things that make you feel better might also save your life.
Dr. Jeffrey Tucker suggests “At home blood tests so you can check not only your testosterone but other hormones like thyroid, and biomarkers like sugar and inflammation. You don’t know if you are below the normal range unless you get tested.”
Many men worry about sex drive, erections, or putting on muscle but don’t talk about it. They can do this test (link) and I can discuss the results and options with them over the phone. “My goals are to help my patients reach their full potential to stay healthy and optimal performance in the gym, sex life and other areas of life. There’s little harm in testing and finding out you need a little testosterone cream or over the counter supplements.”
Maintaining normal testosterone is life-prolonging and quality-of-life-prolonging.
Reference
Capogrosso P, Pontillo M, Gregori S, et al. Severely low testosterone in men with COVID-19: A case-control study. Presented at: EAU 2021, held July 8-12. Abstract P0528.
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